The Cal Football Fan

Jackson in the media

Wide receiver/punt returner DeSean Jackson is getting some heavy media attention this week. While his huge numbers on the field are drawing much of this attention, his confidence and story about committing to Cal over USC are as well. As TBIOOTF writes, Jackson may be the “cockiest Cal player ever.” But is he overconfident? I don’t think so… just watch the highlights on Saturday. Regardless, Jackson is a hot topic for pundits, bulletin boards and blogs this week.

Jackson doesn’t shy away from comparing himself to last year’s Heisman-winner, and puts a target on his back for Saturday’s match-up.

LA Times: “Breakaway Threat”
Long Beach Poly’s DeSean Jackson almost stayed home to play for USC, but Trojans lost him because he felt coaches betrayed a confidence. Now he stars for rival Cal. …
Jackson welcomes comparisons to Bush. “It’s just too bad I’m not playing for SC because if I was playing for SC then it probably would be a different thing,” he said. “I’m the closest thing to Reggie Bush. But I kind of don’t like to follow after too many people. I just try to be myself.” …
“There was too much cockiness over there for me. They were SC. They’re national champions. They’re just guaranteed they could have whoever they want. I kind of felt like I was a more special player than that and they shouldn’t have taken it for granted like that.”

His commitment to that Cal class was also a great indication of the program’s emergence and success in California recruiting.

San Jose Mercury News: “Jackson’s escape from L.A. keeps paying dividends for Cal”
When Cal and USC collide Saturday, the top playmaker on the field will be a sophomore who grew up near the Los Angeles Coliseum, followed the Trojans as a kid, attended their summer camp, watched their practices, knew their players, toured their campus, heard their recruiting pitch — and chose Cal.

How often do the Trojans lose L.A. kids? About as often as they lose games.

“That’s the reason, right there,” Cal receiver DeSean Jackson said. “I didn’t want to follow everybody else. I’m not a follower.”

USC will be focusing on an attempt to shut down Jackson in punt-return game. Don’t be surprised to see many punts go out of bounds.

Orange County Register: “Jackson a danger on special teams”
The extra minutes USC coach Pete Carroll spent working on special teams last week could pay off hugely this week against Cal’s DeSean Jackson. Jackson, a punt return specialist and receiver, leads the nation with four punt-return touchdowns, his latest - and fifth overall - coming against Arizona on Saturday when he raced 95 yards for a first-quarter score.

Coach Pete Carroll and USC know about Jackson’s talent and will be preparing for it. Will they be ready?

Sacramento Bee: “Jackson a haymaker of a player”
Amazingly, Jackson has just 23 career punt returns, scoring on 21.7 percent of his attempts. It’s never a surprise when he breaks a big play. Cal coach Jeff Tedford and his staff have been the beneficiaries of Jackson’s desire to leave Southern California and bypass the strong overtures of the Trojans.

…

“He had spots (last season) when he made some plays, but he’s really torn it up this year,” USC coach Pete Carroll told the Los Angeles Times. “Gosh, they’ve thrown to him deep so many times, and the punt returns alone are awesome.”